Toy railroad trackside accessories



April 21, 1959 J. l.. BNANNO ETAL 2,882,644

TOY RAILROAD TRACKSIDE ACCESSORIES Filed Dec. 12, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1TJ ck.

VEN TO JOSEPH L. BaMa/vw FRA/w( P577/ f A TTORNEY.

April 21, 1959 J. L. BoNANNo Erm.

TOY RAILROAD TRACKSIDE ACCESSORIES FiledDeo. l2, 1950 April 21, 1959 J.L. BONANNO ET AL 2,882,644

TOY RAILROAD TRACKSIDB ACCESSORIES Filed Dec. 12, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 5Y E1. Tl .lll 74 JNVENToRs JosfP/q L. .Ban/ANNO l ffm/w( Pf' fr/ r I ATTORNE Y.

April 21,1959 Q. L. BONANNO Em 2,882,644

Toy RAILRQAD TRAcxsIDE ACCESSORIES Filed Decflz, 195o l .11.. 7352 /Tl 6Sheets-Sheet 4 0 9 O O hh y IN VEN TORS JOSEPH 0A/mwa A TTOR NE Y.

' April 21, 1959 Y'J. L. BQNANNO ETAL 2,882,644

TOY RAILROAD TRAcKsI-DE ACCESSORIES Filed Deo., A12, 195o i yessheets-sheet 6 "imm N NIN-N 1\\| L United States Patent TOY RAILROADTRACKSIDE ACCESSGRIES Joseph L. Bonanno, Madison, and Frank Pettit,Union, NJ., assignors to The Lionel Corporation, New York, N.Y., acorporation of New York Application December 12, 1950, Serial No.200,416

18 Claims. (Cl. 46-40) The present invention relates to toy railroadtrackside accessories, and is more particularly directed toward stockloading platforms by which one can simulate the loading and unloading ofthe railroad stock car as usually carried out in ordinary railroadoperations involving the loading and unloading of live animals.

The present invention contemplates a trackside accessory in the form ofa platform or stockyard adapted to receive the toy `stock from a toystock car or deliver it to the stock car, and means to properly alignand iix the position of the platform in relation to the toy railroadtrackage and the toy stock car arranged to cooperate with the toyplatform for the loading and unloading of the toy stock when located onthe trackage opposite the platform. It also contemplates the provisionof cooperable electrical connections whereby, when the car is oppositethe platform, loading and unloading operations can be remotelycontrolled.

The present invention contemplates that the unloading and loadingplatform Iunit or stock yard will be a completely assembled deviceadapted for ready securement to, or disconnection from, standard formsof toy railroad track so that it can have a xed position laterallyrelative to the track and preferably so that it may be a-djusted tocooperate with different forms o-f track, normally employed in toyrailroad layouts so as to locate the operative parts at the properelevation for use with the stock car when used on the selected form oftrack.

The present invention also contemplates that the stock car be providedwith means whereby, when placed opposite the loading and unloadingplatform, mechanism therein can be actuated to effect loading orunloading of the stock by remote control, this control ybeing effectedthrough properly located, platform carried contactors.

The invention also contemplates providing the car with a normally closeddoor which remains closed except when the unloading mechanism of the caris energized.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show, for purposes of illustrating the presentinvention, one embodiment in which the invention may take form, togetherwith modifications of certain parts, it being understood that thedrawings are illustrative `of the invention rather than limiting thesame.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the track-carried toy railroad stockcar and associated loading platform arranged for transfer of movable toyfigures or the like from car to platform and from platfo-rm to car;

Figure 2 is a top plan view and Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectionalviews on the lines 3-3 and 4 4, respectively, of Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9,showing the parts in position for cooperation with one form of trackhaving relatively low rail height, the car 'being omitted from Figure 2,other parts broken away and others in section, Figure 3 showing exit oftoy stock from the car and Figure 4 its entrance into the car;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary views similar to g Figures 2, 3 and4, respectively, showing the parts in position fo-r cooperation withanother form of track having relatively high rail height;

Figures 8 and 9 are inverted `and plan views, respectively, of the coverassembly and the sub-base assembly of the loading platform, and taken inthe direction of the arrows 8 and 9, respectively, of Figures 3, 4, 6, 7and 10;

Figure 9a is a fragmentary perspective view of a current conductingstrip and cooperative shiftable contact;

Figure 10 is a section through the platform on the line 10-10 of Figures2, 8 and 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the loading platform taken fromthe track side, parts being in section, on the line 11-11 of Figure 2;

Figure 11a is a fragmentary view illustrating the supports for thegates;

Figures 12 and 13 are side elevational views of two forms of insulatedcontact blades, one for use with the track having relatively low railheight and the other for use with the track having the relatively highrail height;

Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the supplemental groundingcontact for use with the track with relatively high rail height;

Figure 15 is a side elevational view of a movable toy ligure or stock orreplica of a domestic animal (cow) such as shipped in a stock car;

Figure 16 is a wiring diagram;

Figure 17 is a transverse sectional View similar to Figure 10, showing amodified form of construction of the platform, parts being in elevation;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 18-18 of Figure17;

Figure 19 is an inverted plan view of the structure of Figures 17 and18;

Figure 2O is a fragmentary sectional View on an enlarged scale in thesame plane as Figure 17;

Figure 21 is a vertical sectional view on the line 21-21 of Figures 19and 20,

Figure 22 is a horizontal sectional view through the body of a stock cartaken above the runway over which the stock moves;

Figure 23 is a transverse sectional view on the line 23-23 of Figure 22showing the doo-r closed;

Figure 24 is a central transverse sectional View on the line 24-24 ofFigure 22 showing in full lines the armature released and the positionof the parts when the door is closed, and in dotted lines showing thedoor in open position;

Figure 25 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 24 :showingthe position of parts when the armature is energized and the door isheld open; and

Figure 26 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 26-26 yof Figure23 showing a detail.

In the perspective view of Figure 1, the usual toy railroad track isindicated at 'I, the stock car at C and the platform or stock yard :atP, and these letters are used to designate these three components in theother figures of the drawing.

The present invention is adaptable for use with two common forms of toyrailroad track and to facilitate description of the cooperation of thecar and platform with either form of track, the track will first bedescribed.

In Figures 2, 3 and 4 a form of three rail track T, known as 027 trackis shown, while in Figures 5, 6 and 7 another form of three rail track,known as O-gauge track is shown at T. These tracks are of thev samegauge and used with the same rolling stock. The principal differencebetween the two tracks, involved here, is that track T has a lower railheight above the base than track T. Owing to the difference in railheight @above the base of the track the rolling stock on one tracktravels at -a different elevation above the track support than when itis on the other track.

The loading and unloading platform or stockyard has a sheet metalsub-base v shown more clearly in Figure 9, and an inverted baseor-cover21 shown more clearly in Figure 8. The sub-base supports thetrack T or T' and the cover, while the cover 21 supports a vibratingplatform, corral, gates and other mechanism to be described.

The sub-base 20 has along one edge (the upper edge of Figure 9) twoupwardly bent longitudinally extending flanges 22 and 23 and properlyspaced from these two anges two transversely extending anges 24 and 25.Each flange 22, 23, 24 and 25 has two prongs or teeth designated 22a,22b, 23a, 23h, 24a, 24b and 25a, 25b which face inwardly and form Ypairsof superposed notches. These prongs Orteethare at `common elevations andarranged so `that the flanges of the railsof track T or T' may bereceived Iand locatedat denite elevations as will be obvious `fromcomparison of Figures 3 and 4 showing track T` in position and Figures 6and 7 :showing track T in position. The anges are so spaced as tolaccommodate the crossties of the track sections as is obvious fromFigures 2 and 5.

The sub-base 20 has an upwardly bent flange 26 in the right position toproject up between one of the track rails and the power rail, 'as shownin Figure 2, and form a contact rail for cooperation with the olf centercurrent collector of one of the trucks of the toy car C, as illustratedin Figure 4-the same to be described more fully below. The base 20 alsocarries an insulating contactor case 27 which carries a removable,insulated blade contact 28 (see Figure 12). This blade contact projectsup between the power rail .and the other track r-ail and is in positionto act as another contact rail and to be engaged by the off centercollector of the other truck of the toy car C, as illustrated in Figures3 and 24 and as will be more fully described below. Flange 26 andinsulated contact 2S form a pair of contact rails having a heightcorresponding with the rails in Figs. 3 and 4, and extension 26' andwider blade con tact 28 form a pair of contact rails having a heightcorresponding with the rails in Figs. 6 and 7.

A current conducting strip 29 shown more clearly in Figure 9a is locatedbetween lower insulating sheet 3th and upper insulating sheet 31 and theconducting strip and insulation are held in place on the sub-base byprongs 32a, 32b and 32e. The conducting strip 29 has an upwardly bentend 33 which extends up through an opening in the insulating contactercase 27 so as to frictionally bear against the contact blade 28. Theconductor strip 29 has a laterally extending spring contact 34 whichlies above the sub-base as will be clear in Figure 3. The sub-base hasend anges 36, 37 cut back at 36' and 37 to accommodate the track, and arear ange 3S provided with rearwardly extending, horizontal guide lugs39 and 40. The sub-base 20 also has another pair of similar lugs 41 fand42, preferably at the same elevation as the lugs 39 and 40 and havingthe same spacing.

The cover 21, shown more clearly in Figure 8, is made `of sheet metaland is adapted to cover the portion of the sub-base not occupied by thetracks, and support the operating mechanism and upper parts of theplatform. The cover is rectangular `and has a front flange 43 and rearange 44 each provided with two sets of superposed apertures 45a, 45b.These Iapertures in the side walls 43 and 44 of the cover are spaced soas to receive the four rearwardly extending prongs 39, 40, 41 and 42 onthe sub-base and support the cover member 21 at one elevation or theother, as apparent from Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7. When in either positionthe sub-base and cover fare held against sliding movement by the nut' 46on stud 46. The cover 2l also has end anges 47, 47' which extend downoutside the anges 36 and 37 of the subbase.

Midway between the frontend rear edges of the cover member 21 it isprovided with upwardly bent members 48 and 49 anged outwardly asindicated at 50 and 51. Each flange carries near the front an adhesivecoated washer 52, made of resilient material such as sponge rubber orthe like.

Midway between the members 48 and 49, the cover member 21 carries adownwardly facing, channel-shaped reinforcing member 53, these partsbeing welded together so as to stiten the cover. Secured above thecentral part of the cover member 21 is a coil housing 54 carrying a coil5S. The coil housing 54 has a rearward extension 56 which carriesanother resilient adhesive washer 57. The washers 52 and 57 provide athree point support for a vibrating platform or metal plate 58. Theadhesive secures the washers to the plate 58 and flanges 50 and S1 andextension 56.` The plate S8 has a rear ange 58a, side flanges 58b, 58eand a front flange 58d. The latter curves forwardly, =as indicated inFigure 2, and its ends are spaced from the side llanges 58b, 58e for thepassage of the toy stock. The plate 58 carries a downwardly extendingvibrating core 59 of magnetizable material, this core extending partW-ay into the coil SS and preferably having a conical recess at itslower end, as indicated at 60.

The platform 58 carries two longitudinally extending fences indicated at61, 61'. These, together with the anges 58a, 58d, provide narrow lanes.At the ends of these fences 61 and 61' are springs 62 and gates 63. Thegates are pivotally mounted in holes 62 in the springs and 63' in thevibrating platform (see Figures 8 and 11a) and are held in positionagainst unintentional movement by lugs 64 entering notches 64' in theplatform 58. The gates and fences form a corral. The vibrating platform58 is surrounded by a fixed fence having a rear portion 65, end portion66, an end portion 67, all formed in one piece, and a front fenceindicated at 68. These fence portions have prongs extending down throughthe cover portion 21 which are twisted to secure the parts in place asindicated at 69 in Figure 8. A ramp R extends downwardly from the end67.

The reinforcing channel 53 under the cover 21 has a downwardly andforwardly bent element 70, Figures 8 and l0, which guides and supportsan armature plate 71 carrying a magnetizable lower core 72. This coreextends up into the coil and preferably has a cone-shaped upper end 73as indicated. The armature plate 71 carries a resilient button or washer74 opposite an adjustable stop screw 75 carried by the cover member 21.YThis screw is held against movement by a spring washer 76 and isavailable to adjustably limit the extent to which the coil can lift thelower core 72 and keep it spaced from armature core 59 providing an airgap.

The end fence members 66 and 67 pivotally support near the front abridge assembly which includes bent rod 77 and two bridging members 78and 79 having rearwardly extending stops 78', 79 adapted to extend underthe forward edge of the vibrating platform 58. The central portion ofthe rod 77 is bent to crank formation as indicated at 80, Figure 11. Theforward end of the armature plate 71 is xedly secured to an upwardlyextending strap 81, rearwardly bent as indicated at 82 so as to overliethe crank portion 80 of the rod 77. When the armature is deenergized, asindicated in Figures 2, l0 and 11 of the drawings, the hook 82 engagesthe crank portion of the shaft or rod 77 and holds the bridgememextending soldering lugs 83 and 84' connected to wires 83 and 84"connected to the coil 55. The wires provide a reliable circuit andinsure the grounding of the structure. It also makes it possible tooperate the vibratory mechanism without a track return. The solderinglug 83 connected to the binding post 83' is low enough to engage withthe upper surface of the contact strip 34 and bear against it when thecover 21 is in either of its positions. The contact 34 is flexibleenough to press against the soldering lug in either of these positions,and is wide enough to permit the sliding necessary in assembly of thetwo parts. The coil 55 may be energized by a switch such as indicated at85, Figure 16.

Whenever the switch 85 is closed, the coil 55 is energized so as to liftthe armature 71 as high as the adjusting screw 7S permits. This releasesthe bridge assembly so that the bridge members 78 and 79 lower bygravity. Third rail potential is also brought to the insulated contactblade 28 supported between the near track rail and the third rail. Thealternating current in the coil 55 will then exert a varying attractionfor the movable armature 59 and as the platform 58 is supported on thethree resilient buttons, the platform 58 and all parts carried by itwill vibrate at a corresponding frequency.

The vibration of platform 58 will cause movement of the toy animals Aanywhere on the platform. These toy animals A, as shown more clearly inFigures 3, 4 and 15, have resilient supporting elements or fingers 86which are effective to propel the animal in the direction indicated bythe arrows in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Inasmuch as the toy is intended tohave the animals move to the right as viewed in Figure 2 for loadingpurposes and be discharged over the unloading bridge 78, and the bridge79 is intended for use to receive animals unloaded from the car, theplatform 58 is, as more clearly shown in Figure 1l, supported on thebase so that the platform is slightly lower at the receiving end than atthe discharging end. This makes it possible for stock to be dischargedfrom the higher bridging member 78 into the car as indicated in Figure 4and to be received from the car over the lower bridging member 79 asindicated in Figure 3.

The paths through which the toy animals travel may be varied by closingand opening the gates 63, and the toy animals may be kept between any ofthe fences as desired or can be kept from moving off the platform.

When the device is intended for use as a trackside structure with thetrack T, having a relatively low rail height, the prongs 39, 40, 41 and42 are, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, in the upper holes 45a of theflanges of the cover member 21 and the platform is at the properelevation to cooperate with the car C on such track. At the same time,the relatively low contact blade 28 of Figure l2 is in place in aninsulating contacto-r case 27. The tracks can be readily secured to thesub-base by slightly springing in or bending the rails between thecrossties so that the anges can be snapped underneath the appropriateprongs 22a, etc.

When, however, it is intended that the platform should be used withtrack having relatively high rails, as shown at T' in Figures 5, 6, and7, the track T is snapped underneath prongs 22h, etc., and the insulatedand grounding contacts are change. The relatively low contact blade 28,which is held in insulating case 27 by frictional engagement withcontact spring 33 is withdrawn and a relatively high sirnilar contactblade 28', Figure 13, is substituted. The flange 26, which forms theground or return contact is provided with a removable grounding tting orclip 26', Figures 7 and 14, so as to provide a grounded contact at thesame height as the insulated contact 28.

In the trackside structure of the modied form of construction shown inFigures 17 to 2l, the sub-base 20a and cover 21a are similar to thecorresponding parts previously described so far as they relate to themeans for supporting the two forms of track and the support of the cover21a at different elevations with respect to the sub-base 20a. They mayemploy the same or different means for electrically grounding thesub-base and supplying the current to the insulated blade correspondingto the blade 28. The cover supports outer fences 65, 66, 67 (not shown),and 68 similar to the outer fences previously described. The end membersof the fence 66 support the bridge assembly similar to that abovedescribed and corresponding reference characters are employed for theseparts. The sub-base is similarly reinforced by channel 53.

Vibratory platform corresponding with the vibratory platform 58 isprovided with four supporting prongs 90a, which enter into resilientplug-like members 90b carried byy end fence members 66 and 67 (notshown). The Vibratory support 90 is able to vibrate up and down in theseresilient supports and carries the corral and gates above discussed. TheVibratory platform 90 carries longitudinally extending bridge member 91,these parts being riveted together as indicated at 91a. This bridgingmember 91 is secured to a downwardly extending connecting rod 92threaded at its lower end as indicated at 93. The rod 92 passes througha tube 94, washer 94', an internally threaded bushing 94" having ahexagonal head 94a and carrying a spring washer 95. When the bushing istightened up, these parts are clamped tightly in place and the tube 94pressed against the bottom of the bridging member 91. The bushing 94" isrundercut so as to carry a split or C-washer 96 spaced from the springwasher 95. The spring washer extends laterally of the axis of the rod 92and has two upwardly bent prongs 95a, 95a which terminate slightly belowthe C-washer 96.

A coil '97 connected in the circuit in a manner similar to coil 55 iscarried on the upper side of the cover member 21a. This coil has a fixedpole piece 98 and receives a movable armature 99, these parts havingcone-shaped end and recess as indicated in the drawing. The lower end ofthe armature 99 carries a spring washer 100 similar to the washer 95 andhaving downwardly extending prongs 100:1 spaced above a C-washer 101. Alever 102 has downwardly facing groove 103 to receive the prongs 95a ofthe spring 95 and an upwardly facing groove 104 to receive thedownwardly facing prongs 100a of the spring 100. The lever extendsforwardly as indicated at 105 and a loose link 106 connects this end ofthe lever with the crank 80 of the bridging assembly. The lever 102carries a weight 107 biasing it downwardly so that the bridging membersare normally up.

When the coil 97 is energized, the armature 99 is attracted, raising thelever 102 up against a downwardly bent ange 108 formed in the channel53. This forms a stop for the lever 102 and a pivot point about which itvibrates. The attractive force acting on the armature 99 varies duringthe alternating current cycle and this irnposes a varying load lon thelever system and the springs 100 and 95. This force is applied throughthe connecting rod 92 and tube 94 to the Vibratory memberrtlgqtp vibratethe latter. The Vibratory platform 90 acts 1n`a manner similar to thatabove described and substantially the same operations are carried out.The springs 95 and 100, together with the backing washers 96 and 101,provide a llexible or yieldable support for the lever 102, permitting itto be vibrated vertically and to shift somewhat in transverse directionswithout imposing frictional drag on the moving parts.

The car C is shown in detail in Figures l to 4, 6, 7, and 22 to 26,inclusive. lt has conventional trucks and couplers permitting its use onthe track and its incorporation into toy trains with other cars. Thetruck at the left end of the car, as shown in Figure l, or at the upperend, Figure 22, is indicated at 110 in Figures 3, 6 and 24. The truck atthe other end of the car is indicated at 111, Figures 4 and 7. Thesetrucks are alike and each truck carries an electromagnetic coupler and acurrent collector 110', or 111', similar to that shown in Giaimo2,297,142, September 29, 1942, and iscooperative with one or the otherof the supplemental rails used with verail track as shown in that patentor in Bonanno Patent 2,232,508, February 18, 1941, so as to permitautomatic uncoupling and control of car carried accessory.

When the car is on the three-rail track T or T', and

stopped in the proper position, these current collectors 110' and 111are in position to engage with the contact blade 2S or 28', andgrounding contact 26 or 26 so that a current consuming device carriedbythe car and connected between the two current collectors may beenergized whenever the circuit is closed to connect the insulated strip28 or 28 with the third rail, as for example, through the switch 85 andcontact strip 34 of Figures 9a and 16.

f In the car of Figures 22 to 26, inclusive, the current consumingelement connected between the current collectors 110' and 111' is in theform of a coil 112. This coil is mounted centrally of the car platform113 and below it in a suitable coil housing 114. The bottom of thishousing is closed. The coil is outside a non-magnetic tube 115 and thistube receives an armature 116 and cushioning spring 116.

The armature is utilized to open the normally closed doors of the carand operate a vibratory stock supporting platform in the car.

The side wall of the car body 117 is provided with two door openings 118and 119 spaced the same as the spacing of the bridge members 78 and 79on the stockyard or platform. The door openings are closed by overheaddoors indicated at 120 and 121, both part of a plastic molding having acentral interconnecting portion 122 and rearwardly extending brackets123 by which the door forming unit is supported on pins 124 carried inthe end walls of the car body. The door member is gravity biased to theclosed position shown in full lines in Figure 23 so that the doors arenormally closed.

The coil housing 114 has two members 125 and 125 which extend upwardlyabove the base 113 of the car and support a horizontal shaft 126 betweenthe armature 116 and the side of the car having the door openings. Alever member 127, made of spring wire, is rockably carried on the shaft126. The left arm 128, as indicated in the drawings, is normally underthe connecting bar 122 between the doors, and when the doors arelowered, the weight ofthe doors holds the lever 127 in the positionindicated in full lines in Figure 24, and the right-hand end 129 of thislever member which passes through a slot 130 in the armature 116 andunderneath a pin 131 carried by the armature, lifts the armature. Thearmature is thus held up so that when the coil is deenergized, thearmature exerts no effort on the lever 127 to effect an opening of thedoor.

When, however, the coil 112 is energized and the arm ature pulled down,the pin 131 acts on the right-hand arm 129 of the lever 127 and liftsthe left end 128 so as to effect an opening of the doors, shifting theparts from the full line position of Figures 23 and 24 to the dottedline position of these figures, or to the full line position Vof Figure25. In this position, the center of gravity of the door carrying memberis substantially above the pivots 124 so that very little load istransmitted to the arm 128 of the lever.

When the armature 112 is fully attracted as shown in Figure 25, the arm129 of the lever isbrought down by the pin 131 against the softrubbergrommet 132. This grommet is carried in a central bracket element 133which forms part of a vibrating stock support or platform 134. Thisstock support which forms the iioor of the car extends lengthwise of thecar as 'indicated more clearly in Figure 22 and has a channel-shapedtrough which extends from one door opening to the other. The ends 135,136 of the vibrating member .134 extend slightly beyond the dooropenings of the car. The vibrating platform 134 is secured to the carplatform 113 by three resilient adhesive buttons 137, 138 and 139.

When the coil 112 is energized by alternating current, the armature 116urged upwardly by spring 116', and together withithe platform 134,'vibrate up and down with the change in the attractive force of themagnet and this vibration will cause animals A which are on thecarcarried platform 134 to proceed in the normal direction, i.e.,forwardly. When the coil is energized the entire car, including thedoors, undergoes vibration, but only the vibration of the stock supportor car floor 134 has a functional value in carrying out thetransportation of the toy animals. In normal operation, the animalsenter car C through door opening 118 at the lower end of Fig. ure 22, orat the right of Figures 1 and 2, and the vibration of the channel 134will cause these animals to move toward the other end of the car fordischarge through the other door. In order that the animals in the carcan be kept from accidental escape, should the coil be energized whenthe car is on a length of five-rail track such as above referred to, thecar is provided with a suitable stop 140 above the channel 134 and nearits discharge end. This stop 140 may conveniently be connected to asliding door 141 carried on the car opposite the loading and unloadngdoor openings.

When the car is placed opposite the trackside structure as shown inFigure 1, and the remote control switch closed, current is supplied toboth magnetic structures, the car doors 120, 121 opened and therespective platforms vibrated rapidly. This intense vibration will causethe movable toy articles or animals, as shown herein, to travel about aloop or circuit, including both vibratory platforms. Should the car beshifted, it will pass off of the energized contacts and the car doorswill close. The paths through which the toy animals travel on thetrackside structure may be controlled by shifting the gates so that theanimals may be caused to travel round and round in a loop on theplatform or may be diverted so as to be passed down the unloading ramp.

While the car and tracks-ide structure are intended for operationtogether, it is possible to secure play value from either the car aloneor from the trackside structure alone. The car can be energized from thelength of tiverail track (such as has been referred to), and stock inthe car unloaded down a suitable ramp without passing them on to thevibratory platform of a stationary structure. Also, it is possible touse the tracksidestructure without any tracks as it is a completeoperating unit by itself. The stock may be discharged down the rampshown or another ramp adjacent the unloading bridge.

Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other formsand constructions within the scope of the claims, we wish it to beunderstood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, andvarious moditcations and changes being possible, we do not otherwiselimit ourselves in any way with respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A trackside accessory for use with toy railroad trackage having theusual flanged rails, comprising a base provided with means along oneside thereof whereby the anged rails of a toy railroad track may besecured thereto in a predetermined elevational position relative to thebase, a platform resiliently supported above the base and laterally ofthe tracks for Vibration up and down, an electromagnetic coil actuatedvibratory means for vibrating the platform, the platform having guideswhich determine the paths of movement of vibration propelled devicesresting thereon and spaced to provide a discharge passageway at the edgeof the platform toward the track for discharge into a rail-carried carhaving a corresponding oor elevation, having a normally elevated bridgeclosing ot the discharge passageway and biased to lowered position, andmeans operated by said coil for releasing the bridge on energization ofthe coil so that articles may be discharged across said bridge.

2. A trackside accessory for use with toy railroad trackage having theusual anged rails, comprising a base provided with means along one sidethereof whereby the flanged rails of a toy railroad track may be securedthereto in a predetermined elevational position relative to the base, aplatform resiliently supported above the base and laterally of thetracks for vibration up and down, an electromagnetic coil actuatedvibratory means for Vibrating the platform, the platform having guideswhich determine the paths of movement of vibration propelled devicesresting thereon and spaced to provide a discharge passageway at the edgeof the platform toward the track for discharge into a rail-carried carhaving a corresponding oor elevation, wherein the guides also are spacedto provide an entrance passageway along said edge, and having normallyelevated bridges closing off the discharge and entrance passages, andmeans operated by said coil for releasing the bridges on energization ofthe coil so that articles may traverse the bridges.

3. A trackside accessory for use with toy railroad trackage having theusual anged rails, comprising a base provided with means along one sidethereof whereby the anged rails of a toy railroad track may be securedthereto in a predetermined elevational position relative to the base, aplatform resiliently supported above the base and laterally of thetracks for vibration up and down, an electromagnetic coil actuatedvibratory means for vibrating the platform, the platform having guideswhich determine the paths of movement of vibration propelled devicesresting thereon and spaced to provide a discharge passageway at the edgeof the platform toward the track for discharge into a rail-carried carhaving a corresponding floor elevation, wherein the vibratory platformhas additional guides interior of the other guides to providealternative paths, and gates adapted to close oif the alternative paths.

4. A trackside accessory for use with toy railroad trackage having theusual flanged rails, comprising a base provided with means along oneside thereof whereby the anged rails of a toy railroad track may besecured thereto in a predetermined elevational position relative to thebase, a platform resiliently supported above the base and laterally ofthe tracks for vibration up and down, an electromagnetic coil actuatedvibratory means for vibrating the platform, the platform having guideswhich determine the paths of movement of vibration propelled devicesresting thereon and spaced to provide a discharge passageway at the edgeof the platform toward the track for discharge into a rail-carried carhaving a corresponding oor elevation, wherein the guides are also spacedto provide an entrance passageway along said edge and having a fenceabout the platform except opposite the entrance and dischargepassageways.

5. A trackside structure for use with toy cars having a standard heightfrom wheel tread to car floor and with installed toy railroad trackagehaving the usual ties and anged rails without disarranging saidtrackage, comprising a base having alongside one edge thereof arelatively low level portion adapted to extend under the trackage tiesand provided with -means for detachably securing the base to the flangesof the installed track rails so that the treads of the track rails havea predetermined elevation and lateral position with respect to the baseand a car on the rails has its floor located at a predetermined height,a platform carried from the base at a predetermined lateral positionwith respect to the tracks and car and opposite the car oor, theplatform having guides providing a path terminating along the edgethereof near the track support and carrying bridges which when elevatedclose off the ends of the path, means for supporting the platform forvertical vibration, whereby articles supported thereon by resilientoblique ngers may be moved by such vibration, electromagneticallyoperated, platform 10 vibrating means supported from the base andoperably connected to the platform, and means connecting theelectromagnetically operated means to the bridges to open them uponenergization thereof.

6. A trackside structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ends of thepath are on the edge of the platformv towards the track to provideentrance and exit passageways spaced lengthwise and wherein the platformis higher at the discharge passageway than at the entrance passageway sothat it may discharge articles at a greater elevation than that at whicharticles may be accepted.

7. A trackside structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein theelectromagnetic means includes a freely vibrating armature carried bythe platform,r and a second armature biased to one position and moved toa second position out of contact with the rst where it provides ashortened air gap.

8. A trackside structure as claimedv in claim 5, wherein theelectromagnetic means includes a coil and two freely movable armatures,one connected to the platform to move bodily therewith, the othermovable to a position to provide a narrow air gap between it and the rstarmature and having means to adjust the air gap.

9. A trackside structure as claimed in claim 5 and for use withdifferent tracks each having a rail elevation dierent from the elevationof the other of said tracks and having a plurality of track securingmeans for securing the said diiferent tracks at different elevations,and wherein the means for carrying the platform from the base includesmeans for supporting the platform at corresponding selected heights tothereby compensate for change in height of the rails of the selectedtrack and change in elevation of the car thereon.

10. A trackside structure as claimed in claim 9 wherein the platformsupporting means includes a plurality of sets of superposed holes and aplurality of laterally shiftable members tted into one set only ofholes.

11. A toy railroad trackside accessory for use with diverse forms ofinstalled toy railroad trackage having ties and flanged track rails ofdifferent heights, said accessory having a base adapted to rest on aflat surface and including means for securing it to the rail flangeswith the rail flanges at one of a plurality of selected heights abovesaid surface so that standard height cars on the rails have their floorsat correspondingly different heights above the said surface, saidaccessory also including a merchandise handling device having a platformfor transfer of merchandise to and from the cars, and also includingmeans to mount the trackside platform at correspondingly differentheights above the `base of the accessory.

12. A toy railroad trackside accessory as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe merchandise handling device includes electromagnetically operatedmeans for vibrating the platform, the accessory being in the form of apreassembled unit, and shifted bodily from one mounting position to theother.

13. A toy railroad trackside accessory as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe merchandise handling device includes resilient supports for theplatform thereof, and an electromagnetically operated platform vibratorhaving a solenoid coil and a vibratory armature drivingly connected tothe said platform.

14. A toy railroad trackside accessory for use with diverse forms ofinstalled toy railroad trackage having ties and anged track rails ofdifferent heights, said accessory having a base adapted to rest on aflat surface and including means for securing it to the rail ilangeswith the rail flanges at one of a plurality of selected heights abovesaid surface so that standard height cars thereon have their oors atcorrespondingly different heights above the said surface, a merchandisehandling device having a platform for transfer of merchandise to andfrom the cars, and means to mount the trackside platform atcorrespondingly different heights above the base of the accessory, saidlast mentioned means includ- 11 ing` horizontally"eitendingprongs and acover member for the base which directly supports the paltform of theJmerchandise handling device and has holes at diierent elevations toreceive thelprongs'.

15. A trackside accessory for use with different forms of toy railroadtrackage having anged track rails of different heights so that cars withuniform spacingof their floors above the rails have dilerent oorheights, said accesory having a base provided with two setsv of railange engageable devices at different heights so as to hold either trackat a selected elevation relative thereto, a vibratory platform, andmeans to mount it at correspondingly selected elevations above the baseand at the same elevation above the track irrespective of which trackis'in Vplace so as to compensate for car oor height variation.

16. A trackside accessory as claimed in claim 15, wherein the railengageable means includes notched members receiving the edges of therails.

17. A trackside accessory as claimed in claim 15, wherein the platformmounting means includes a cover member secured to the base and to whichthe platform is secured, and the base and cover have cooperative prongsand pron-receiving vertically spaced. .v

18. A trackside accessory as claimed in claim 15, having insulated andgrounded contact of height to correspond with one rail height andextension contacts to change the elevation to correspond with the otherrail height.

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